Myanmar’s junta chief has declared that the military will retaliate against ethnic armed groups involved in an offensive in the northern region of the country, which has seen the seizure of towns and blockage of key trade routes to China. This offensive marks a significant challenge to the junta’s rule since it took power in 2021.
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA) announced that they had captured numerous outposts, four towns, and disrupted crucial trade routes to China. In response to these actions, the government, under junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, has vowed to launch counter-attacks against these armed groups.
Additionally, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an ethnic armed group situated in the neighboring Kachin state, has also been accused of attacking transport facilities and military bases. The junta’s spokesperson had previously reported the loss of control over Chinshwehaw town, a vital trade hub on the border with China’s Yunnan province. The situation is escalating, with the military and ethnic armed groups engaged in ongoing hostilities and territorial disputes.
